FEATURE:

IT’S ABOUT TIME

BEFORE & AFTER:

ULYSSES S. GRANT 

MEMORIAL

BEHIND THE SCENES:

CAPITOL BUILDING 

INSULATION DIVISION

VOLUME 3 FALL 2016
11

BY THE NUMBERS:

Six offices describe how they 

support front-line employees 

from the Ford Building.

BEFORE & AFTER:

Dramatic photos showcase the 

recent restoration of the Grant 

Memorial.

12

SQUARING OFF WITH HISTORY:

Learn about our latest cool tool used 

to preserve the Olmsted walls.

18

4 FEATURE: A stone carver hand finishes a Capitol 

ornament that was replicated by an automated 

carving machine. Photo by James Rosenthal

In This Issue

1 ARCHITECT’S NOTEBOOK 

2 BEHIND THE SCENES

 Jack of All Trades

4 FEATURE

 It’s About Time

10 CAPITOL VIEW

 Tholos

11 COOL TOOLS

 Squaring Off With History

12 BEFORE & AFTER

 Grant Memorial 

14 MEET THE LEADERS

 Cannon Renewal Project

16 DOING GOOD

Modern-Day Superhero

18 BY THE NUMBERS

 Six Degrees of Service

COVER: Restoration of the Grant 

Memorial is almost complete. 

Photo by Susanne Bledsoe
THOLOS • FALL 2016 1

I

long for the days when we can experience all of the 

magnificent national treasures on Capitol Hill as they 

were originally imagined.

The entry sequence and progression through spaces 

are carefully thought out by architects as buildings 

are designed. These experiences are very powerful and 

purposefully created with both direct and subtle clues to 

evoke a wide range of feelings and emotions.

The entrance to the U.S. Supreme Court, for 

example, is designed with power, authority, grandeur and 

importance in mind. After ascending broad, sweeping 

marble steps, its portico’s monstrous columns bulge in the 

middle and taper to the top, giving a sense of strength, 

weight and rising up to the ultimate authority.

To enter the Library of Congress’ Thomas Jefferson 

Building, two flights of stairs were envisioned. At the 

top, the grand entryway’s lower ceiling gives the sense of 

anticpation before arriving at the opulent Great Hall.

Sadly, acts of violence and threats to security have 

changed the way we experience some of our public spaces 

and building approaches at the Capitol complex. Instead 

of ascending the grand stairs, we now walk underneath or 

around them. The new routes are unfortunate, but vital 

for everyone’s safety.

While we have to make difficult decisions to ensure 

that our buildings, and the people inside them, are both 

served and protected, opportunities abound to return our 

buildings to the way they once were through our historic 

preservation efforts.

The Capitol’s Zodiac Corridor is a great example of 

restoring a building to its original vision. For ten years, 

this area was converted into a makeshift office space by a 

wall separating it from the rest of the Brumidi Corridors. 

Partnering with Congress, we were able to remove the 

wall and convert this space to its original glory. 

A similar return to original design will happen as 

part of the Cannon Building’s renewal project. Imagine 

experiencing those restored hallways and seeing the 

corridor ends filled with natural light pouring in from 

ARCHITECT’S NOTEBOOK 

A Progression of the Imagination

windows currently obstructed by makeshift offices.

I often think about what those who walked the original 

paths of the Capitol complex so many years ago must 

have felt and seen. I challenge you to do the same. Our 

imaginations are boundless. t

Stephen T. Ayers, FAIA, LEED AP

Architect of the Capitol

A portico of tall Corinthian columns gives the Supreme Court 

Building a monumental entrance. Photo by Susanne Bledsoe
2 THOLOS • FALL 2016

BEHIND THE SCENES

 Jack of All Trades 

T

he work of the Capitol Building’s Insulation 

Division is as “behind the scenes” as you can 

get. In addition to installing insulation, the shop 

also supports other divisions in its jurisdiction 

by performing dust control and hazardous materials 

abatement work in the Capitol Building and Capitol 

Visitor Center. 

The insulators often work behind closed doors and 

within containments they build to ensure the safety of 

those who visit and work on the Capitol campus.

The shop’s role has expanded in recent years, far 

beyond the installation of insulation as Deputy Capitol 

Building Superintendent Kristy Long explained, “We 

consider each employee in the Insulation Shop to be a 

jack of all trades. The shop’s name is a bit misleading. 

They do so much more than insulation and are often the 

first ones on-site when we start a new project.”

The shop is frequently called on to survey new project 

sites. Employees conduct tests for hazardous materials, 

perform abatement work when necessary and give the all 

WRITTEN BY ERIN NELSON • PHOTOS BY SUSANNE BLEDSOE

John Lamberton, Assistant 

Supervisor, selects the proper 

copper pipe size for a job.
THOLOS • FALL 2016 3

clear for projects to officially start. 

In order to properly abate hazardous materials, 

insulators suit up in protective gear and follow safety 

protocols to the letter. They spend several days or even 

weeks building containments of all shapes and sizes to 

house and protect the historic art, furniture and flooring 

from the impacts of their work. Think of the most 

challenging odd-shaped item you’ve ever wrapped and 

multiple that task by a hundred. This is the modern-day 

nature of their work.

Every day is different. Every new project is an 

opportunity to learn something about the historic spaces 

of the Capitol. “I love the historical aspect of our job. 

Working in different rooms allows us to learn more about 

their history. Each one has a unique story,” said Insulator 

Sean Sprouse. 

While working in one of the world’s most iconic and 

historically significant buildings is educational, there 

are also distinct challenges. “We work closely with the 

curators in developing plans for protective covering. We’re 

often working on and around items that are hundreds 

of years old. We have to know the correct materials and 

procedures to protect them. We make sure we get it 

right,” explained Insulator Work Leader Mark Holland.

Their favorite recent projects include working in the 

Old Senate Chamber and removing paint as part of the 

Capitol Dome and Rotunda restoration projects. 

“We were removing caulk on the Dome, working right 

under the Statue of Freedom. The view from the top is 

amazing. You can see the whole city, something very few 

people have the opportunity to see,” said Insulator Larry 

Thompson. 

Although most are unaware of their daily 

contributions, the insulators’ work impacts us all. Their 

commitment to getting the job done well and safely 

ensures the Capitol Building’s story will continue to 

unfold for future generations.

All nine of the shop’s insulators have immense pride 

for their roles in maintaining the historic building. And as 

their leader, Insulation Division Supervisor Ronnie Britt, 

is equally honored to serve with them, “I am proud to lead 

such a capable team. The work we do is important to the 

preservation of the Capitol, and I have tremendous trust 

in them to always get the job done.” t

Clockwise from top left: Marc Kinney, Erin Jordan and 

Larry Thompson support a variety of projects as part of 

the Capitol Building's Insulation Division.
4 THOLOS • FALL 2016
THOLOS • FALL 2016 5

IT’S 

ABOUT 

TIME

WRITTEN BY FRANKLIN BRADLEY • PHOTOS BY JAMES ROSENTHAL 

T

he Corinthian capitals with elaborate carvings of 

curled leaves, ornate flowers and stone scrolls, as 

well as the pediment statues, have stood exposed 

to the elements since they were installed 150 

years ago. They have no protection against the snow, sleet 

and ice that coat the Capitol every winter.

Despite the toll this takes, the Architect of the 

Capitol’s (AOC) Historic Preservation Officer Mary 

Oehrlein observed that, “It’s quite possible that there’s 

been no comprehensive restoration of the exterior of the 

building since the early 20th century. So, it’s about time.”

Soft snow seems no match for stone, but when 

water collects in the intricate stone decorations and 

then freezes, it expands, pushing the stone slowly, yet 

inevitably, apart.

To many, it’s difficult to see the need for restoration 

from the ground. Oehrlein recalled approaching the 

Capitol for the first time, “It’s a beautiful building, and 

if you don’t look closely, you don’t see the damage.” 

However, the stone has been deteriorating for decades, 

especially the finer details, hand-carved by artisans.

Due to a shortage of experienced stone carvers in the 

United States, the original craftsmen were brought from 

Italy, along with their families, and provided housing in 

FEATURE

Historic Preservation Officer Mary Oehrlein inspects stone at the 

Capitol.
6 THOLOS • FALL 2016

Below: Scenes from the original 

construction of the Capitol extension. 
THOLOS • FALL 2016 7

Washington, D.C. The grounds around the expanding 

Capitol became filled with blocks of marble, awaiting the 

carvers’ hammers and chisels, which converted them from 

blank slabs to elegant scrolling leaves and fluted columns.

Temporary wooden sheds were built to shelter the 

carvers from the weather, but they weren’t big enough to 

contain all of the work. For the massive columns, long tents 

were strung up over the smooth cylinders. It was here that 

these Italian artists created the fluting and other details that 

completed the columns before they were hoisted into place, 

where their capitals were mounted on top.

Time has taken its toll on their work, however. “At the 

top of the columns, you’ll see that the scrolls that should 

be there are no longer there, which means all of that stone 

has fallen at some point,” said Chris Lear, U.S. Capitol 

Exterior Stone and Metal Preservation Project Manager. 

He described how the remaining stone is weakened, 

“When you touch it, it just turns to sand.” The process is 

known as “sugaring” since the rock is reduced to a pile of 

white grains.

Top: Conservators consolidate the stone, strengthening 

it against the elements. Right: Project Manager Chris Lear 

compares an original, weathered stone carving with a newly 

carved replacement. 
8 THOLOS • FALL 2016

In the 1990s, the head of the Capitol Masonry Shop 

would call Oehrlein and report, “I’ve got a bucket of 

stone. Do you want it?” When she asked how big the 

pieces were, he would always reply, “It’s just sand. We 

swept it up.”

“Because of the condition, all of the detailed carving gets 

cleaned using a laser, which takes off the carbon deposits,” 

said Lear. That is followed with a detergent formulated 

for the specific type of stone in that location. There are 

five different types of marble on the Capitol, each with a 

unique chemical structure that requires a specific detergent 

formulation to clean it without causing damage.

Once the stone is cleaned, it is strengthened through a 

process known as consolidation to protect against further 

damage. Consolidation involves applying hardening 

agents, which are absorbed by the stone. Each application 

has to be done within strict temperature and humidity 

parameters. As Lear observed, “The challenge is that it’s 

all outside work. The elements are our biggest obstacle.”

Stone conservators built enclosures, but just 

sheltering the stone isn’t enough. “In the winter we’re 

in containments with heat. In the summer, we’re airconditioning the containments,” said Lear. Once the 

Above: An automated carving machine replicates a stone ornament that will be hand-finished by stone carvers. Below: Starting with a square block of 

stone and an original ornament, a stone carver skillfully recreates one of the many stone ornaments damaged by exposure to the elements. 
THOLOS • FALL 2016 9

stone is within the prescribed parameters, conservators 

must brush on multiple coats of two treatments, letting 

the stone fully absorb each one before proceeding.

The stone that was too damaged to save has been 

removed, and those ornaments are being recreated. 

The simple pieces are being replicated by an 

automated carving machine off-site, where they will be 

hand-finished.

The more complex items are being recreated by a 

stone carver on-site, who is carving from the same stone 

blocks the original craftsmen worked, although he has the 

advantage of modern power tools.

As the Capitol has expanded, the AOC has removed 

and stored stone for use in future restoration work. For 

this project, that stone is being returned to the Capitol, 

where it is carefully color-matched to the existing stone. 

Similarly, the carver is working to match the style of each 

of his predecessors.

“It’s difficult to get the complex shape of the leaf,” says 

Oehrlein. “The machine can’t do that. In addition, each 

column capital is slightly different. They weren’t carved 

by machine; they were carved by men who had a model, 

but they were doing their own interpretation.”

The masterful craftsmanship and meticulous care 

involved in preserving the stone does take time. Those 

minutes will be multiplied and magnified in the 

moments of wonder as this beautiful building continues 

to inspire visitors in the centuries to come.t

...each column capital is slightly different. They weren’t 

carved by machine; they were carved by men who had a 

model, but they were doing their own interpretation.
10 THOLOS • FALL 2016

Why did a Greek word for a round building become the name 

of the Architect of the Capitol’s employee magazine? 

S

itting atop the Capitol Building’s cast-iron Dome is the Tholos, a structure comprised of 12 columns encircling 

a lantern that is lit to signal when the House of Representatives, the Senate or both chambers are in session. 

The Tholos supports the base of the Statue of Freedom and provides amazing views of Washington, D.C. 

The entire Capitol campus is visible from the Tholos. Similarly, AOC employees are seen in and around every 

building and across the grounds — day and night — in support of Congress, the Supreme Court and the Library of 

Congress. It seemed fitting that an architectural feature of such prominence and importance serves as the name of the 

AOC’s employee magazine. t

Tholos

WRITTEN BY ERIN COURTNEY • PHOTO BY CHUCK BADAL

CAPITOL VIEW
THOLOS • FALL 2016 11

COOL TOOLS

Squaring Off With History

WRITTEN BY FRANKLIN BRADLEY • PHOTOS BY CHUCK BADAL

I

n 1873, Congress commissioned 

Frederick Law Olmsted to 

design the enlarged grounds of 

the U.S. Capitol. After careful 

study, he presented a plan for a 

sophisticated landscape to surround 

and highlight the extraordinary 

building. His symmetrical design 

incorporated landscaping — careful 

placement of trees and simple shrubs 

— and hardscaping — such as 

edging, lamps and a series of curved 

walkways that afforded attractive 

views of the Capitol.

To line many of the walkways 

Many of the tools we use around the Capitol campus are unique, historic and essential 

to our mission — in other words, they are cool tools! We asked employees to tell us 

about their coolest tools, and this feature represents our latest find.

and define Capitol Square, Olmsted 

designed low stone walls to keep 

people from walking across the lawns 

and treating the grounds like a park. 

These low walls extend over 5,500 

linear feet and feature roughhewn 

stones cut into rectilinear shapes 

with distinctive square-beaded 

mortar joints between them. These 

squared joints echo the shapes of 

the stones and call attention to the 

straight lines in the rock wall.

To preserve these walls, Architect 

of the Capitol (AOC) stone masons 

must periodically repair and replace 

the mortar, recreating the same 

square bead. “It’s a lot of work to 

make sure all of the joints line up,” 

says Russell Jones, a stone mason at 

the AOC for the past 26 years. Jones 

created a custom-made tool called a 

convex jointer that the AOC masons 

use to make sure all of the mortar 

appears uniform.

The convex jointer not only helps 

connect the stones and preserve 

Olmsted’s historic hardscape, 

but also ties today’s masons with 

their historic predecessors who 

handcrafted these walls, for that 

reason we think this is a cool tool.t
BEFORE & AFTER
THOLOS • FALL 2016 13

GRANT MEMORIAL

WRITTEN BY ERIN COURTNEY • PHOTOS BY SUSANNE BLEDSOE

Since 2015, the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial by Sculptor Henry Merwin Shrady has been 

hidden behind scaffolding. That is about to change. The conservation effort is rapidly 

coming to a close, and soon an astonishingly vibrant, emotional and detailed sculpture 

will be revealed. The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) looks forward to unveiling the restored 

monument in the fall of 2016. 

Interested in a sneak peek? The AOC Photography Branch has documented each step of the 

restoration process. Check out the before and after photographs above. Future updates on 

the project can be found at www.aoc.gov/grant. t

BEFORE & AFTER
14 THOLOS • FALL 2016

THERE ARE 

18

CORINTHIAN COLUMNS 

IN THE CANNON 

ROTUNDA

Cannon Renewal Project

WRITTEN BY KRISTEN FREDERICK • PHOTOS BY DEWITT ROSEBOROUGH

As leaders for the Cannon Renewal Project, Construction Project 

Executive Robert “Skip” Vaughn and Program Executive Susan Wong are 

dedicated to managing the operation of the 10-year, five-phased project. 

Together they lead a diverse team of professionals through the planning, 

design and construction necessary to complete such a monumental 

undertaking. By fostering a culture of collaboration and partnership with 

the construction contractor Clark Christman Joint Venture, construction 

manager MBP-AECOM Joint Venture and design team Shalom Baranes 

Associates, they continue to set the project on a path for success. 

How did you get your start in the 

engineering profession?

Vaughn: I attended the Coast 

Guard Academy for four years, 

earning my degree in civil 

engineering. I then spent 10 years 

with the Coast Guard working as a 

Construction Manager and Facility 

Manager. 

Wong: I went to the University of 

Maryland and earned a degree in 

civil engineering. My first job out 

of college was as a Junior Engineer 

Trainee on the Pentagon Renovation 

Project with the Army Corps of 

Engineers.

In your opinion, what are three 

attributes that make a great 

leader? 

Vaughn:

1. Manage expectations: When 

communicating with any level 

of people you deal with, always 

manage their expectations so you 

minimize surprises. This builds 

trust and confidence.

2. Be proactive vs. reactive: This 

mitigates problems and shows 

leadership.

Program Executive Susan Wong Project Executive Robert “Skip” Vaughn

Tholos sat down with AOC leaders 

Vaughn and Wong to discuss the 

Cannon Renewal Project and what 

leadership means to them.

Why is the Cannon Renewal 

Project so important?

Vaughn: The Cannon Building has 

an important place in history and 

very unique architecture that gives 

a sense of awe when you walk into 

spaces like the Cannon Rotunda and 

Caucus Room. We want to ensure 

MEET THE LEADERS

THE CANNON 

BUILDING IS

108

YEARS OLD

the building functions for the next 

100 years for the use and pleasure of 

generations to come. The work we 

are doing will ensure that happens.

Wong: This is the rare opportunity 

to complete a project of this 

magnitude the right way. We are 

utilizing the latest technology to 

enhance a historic building with 

more modern features, while at the 

same time preserving the building’s 

historic fabric.
THOLOS • FALL 2016 15

THE BUILDING 

IS DESIGNED 

TO USE 

22%

LESS

ENERGY

3. Be fair and reasonable: In 

everything that you do and every 

decision that you make, apply 

this principle so that even if it 

is a difficult situation, you gain 

credibility in the long run.

Wong:

1. Transparency: Be open, honest 

and inclusive with your team. Let 

them tell you hard truths that 

may be hard to hear, but can cause 

problems down the road. This will 

give you time to solve the issue.

2. Mentorship: By delegating tasks 

and giving your team members 

opportunities to shine, you create 

a stronger team.

3. Empowerment: As a leader, you 

provide guidance and vision. 

When you treat your team with 

professional respect, they will 

gain the confidence necessary to 

grow and learn.

What have you learned about 

leadership during your career?

Vaughn: On every project I’ve 

ever worked on, I’ve always been 

constantly learning. My goal going 

into any project is to improve my 

base of knowledge in every aspect 

possible. And by modeling this for 

my team, I hope to inspire them 

to do the same. Leadership is not 

always telling someone what to do 

— you have to model the behaviors 

you’d like to see others replicate.

Wong: I have developed my own 

leadership style from watching 

my own bosses over the years and 

learning from them. They supported 

my career and taught me trust, 

respect and loyalty in the workplace. 

I’m a strong leader because of their 

guidance — and now I want to do 

that for others. t

For more information about the 

Cannon Renewal Project, visit 

www.aoc.gov/cannon.

THE LANDSCAPE 

IS DESIGNED TO USE 

50%

LESS POTABLE 

WATER

THE PROJECT 

WILL TAKE 

10

YEARS TO 

COMPLETE 

THE PROJECT 

CONSISTS OF 

5

PHASES

THE TOWER

CRANE IS

208

FEET TALL
16 THOLOS • FALL 2016

MODERN-DAY

SUPERHERO

I

n today’s Marvel® franchise-machine world we see movie after movie featuring 

characters with superpowers saving the country or universe from the villain of the 

day. Many people wish they had these powers themselves, but what many people 

fail to remember is that most of these heroes are not born with their powers, they gain 

them through some experiment or by accident, and it’s what they choose to do with 

them that makes them heroes.

WRITTEN BY JUSTIN KIEFFER • PHOTO BY CHUCK BADAL
THOLOS • FALL 2016 17

DOING GOOD

Brian Roberson, a 

Supervisory Construction 

Representative in Planning 

and Project Management’s 

Construction Division, wasn’t born 

with superpowers, but growing up he 

always loved planes. When he was 

27, he learned to fly and eventually 

became an instrument-rated pilot. 

When compared to a visual-rated 

pilot, it means he can fly through the 

clouds — just like a superhero. It’s 

not Roberson’s ability to fly, but what 

he does with this talent that makes 

him a superhero in the eyes of those 

he helps and others who know what 

he does. 

Roberson volunteers for an 

organization called Angel Flight 

Soars, one of several organizations 

that work together to transport 

burn patients, cancer patients 

and others with appointments at 

special treatment centers across the 

country. When a pilot plans a trip, 

they can look online and check 

the list of missions needing a pilot. 

“Someone in New York could need 

to get to Houston and that might 

be two or three legs, with different 

pilots requiring coordination with 

other Angel Flight organizations,” 

Roberson states. These three-hour 

flights can save people from having 

to take a 12-hour car ride, both to 

and from their destination.

Before joining the Architect 

of the Capitol in 2016, Roberson 

had a general contracting business. 

In 2014, he purchased a fourseat Cirrus SR20 plane. “Because 

I’d been fortunate in business, I 

wanted to give back and part of 

that was learning about the Angel 

Flight community,” Roberson said. 

“Hearing stories about children 

needing help drove me to start doing 

it. Their parents can’t afford to pay 

for their child to travel to these 

special centers. The Angel Flight 

pilots are taking a small portion 

of stress away from these families 

and maybe giving a young child an 

adventure.” 

Whenever Roberson heads back 

home to Birmingham, Alabama, 

he checks the mission list to see 

how he can help and, to date, has 

completed nearly 30 missions, 

traveling from New York to Texas, 

and all places in between. Roberson 

has also completed multiple legs of 

one mission so that the patient didn’t 

have to land and then wait, maybe 

hours, for another pilot to help 

them finish their journey. “It’s really 

nothing to go the extra 30 minutes 

or hour to drop someone off.”

Roberson’s ability to fly and help 

organizations like Angel Flight 

Soars is an example to all who wish 

for superpowers of their own. Each 

one of us has the ability to learn 

a new skill that we are passionate 

about and then use that gift in ways 

that can help others. No matter how 

small that contribution may seem 

to us, it can make all the difference 

to someone in need — especially 

if you’re also able to make a fiveyear-old feel like he can fly through 

the clouds — just like his favorite 

superhero. t

DOING GOOD

Photo courtesy of Brian Roberson

" EACH ONE OF US HAS THE ABILITY TO LEARN 

A NEW SKILL THAT WE ARE PASSIONATE 

ABOUT AND THEN USE THAT GIFT IN WAYS 

THAT CAN HELP OTHERS."
18 THOLOS • FALL 2016

Six Degrees of Service

WRITTEN BY FRANKLIN BRADLEY • PHOTOS BY DEWITT ROSEBOROUGH

V

isitors, members and congressional staff are familiar with many Architect of the Capitol 

(AOC) employees who serve them directly every day, such as custodians, subway drivers and 

visitor guides. In addition, they see many other front-line employees at work painting walls 

and maintaining escalators, plumbing, wiring and all the other systems in the historic buildings 

we care for. What they can’t see is that these front-line employees are supported by teams of dedicated 

and talented professionals. Many of these specialists work nearby in the Ford House Office Building. 

We asked some of these groups to briefly introduce their departments, so you know better who is behind 

the scenes, supporting the front-line of AOC.

How does your division 

support AOC’s mission?

As a strategic business 

partner, the Human Capital 

Management Division 

(HCMD) provides proactive, 

innovative and customerfocused human capital 

programs and services.

As an internal service 

provider, what services 

does your division 

provide to AOC’s front-line 

employees?

HCMD endeavors to make 

work/life better for AOC 

employees through a variety 

Human Capital Management Division 1 TERESA BAILEY, CHIEF HUMAN CAPITAL OFFICER

of services, including:

• Assistance with benefits, 

leave and payroll

• Employee awards

• Training and professional 

development 

What is the most important 

measure of success for your 

division? 

A satisfied customer. To hear 

that we’ve made a positive 

difference in the lives of 

our employees is extremely 

rewarding.

What should everyone 

know about your division 

that nobody knows?

Our work and mission 

touches everyone, and it is 

our goal to meet the needs 

of those whom we serve. We 

strive to get to yes, whenever 

possible.

If your division was a 

movie, what movie would 

it be? Why?

“The Right Stuff.” I think 

this title speaks to 

the exceptional skills, 

competencies and genuine 

compassion for AOC 

employees that HCMD staff 

bring to the table every day 

in supporting our mission.
THOLOS • FALL 2016 19

BY THE NUMBERS

How does your branch 

support AOC’s mission?

We are the historical memory 

for the AOC.

As an internal service 

provider, what services 

does your branch provide to 

AOC’s front-line employees?

We help save you from being 

overwhelmed with records 

and are your source to find 

historical information to help 

you do your jobs.

What is the most important 

measure of success for your 

branch? 

When we’re successfully able 

to answer a reference request 

and provide drawings and 

information that are essential 

for current projects.

What should everyone 

know about your branch 

that nobody knows?

The Latrobe drawings that 

How does your office 

support AOC’s mission?

By providing extraordinary 

services in the areas of asset 

management, capital project 

delivery and campus-wide 

operations.

As an internal service 

provider, what services 

does your office provide 

to AOC’s front-line 

employees?

We provide a safe working 

environment and ensure 

the areas employees work in 

are properly designed and 

constructed.

What is the most important 

measure of success for your 

office?

Eliminating safety incidents. 

The work is important, but 

ensuring our employees are 

going home in the same 

condition they came to work 

in is paramount.

What should everyone 

2 Records Management and Archives Branch

STACIE BYAS, CHIEF

3 Planning and Project Management 

PETER MUELLER, DIRECTOR 

were found in the ceiling 

tiles? Yes, we have them.

Among the oldest records in 

the AOC Archives are three 

original Latrobe drawings 

that survived the burning 

of the Capitol by the British 

during the War of 1812. 

They were discovered in a 

ceiling crawl space in the 

Senate Library during a 

1964 rewiring and relighting 

project.

If your branch was a 

movie, what movie would 

it be? Why?

“National Treasure.” Like 

the main characters in the 

film, AOC’s archivists must 

preserve original documents, 

research far and wide, and 

apply their findings to bring 

meaning to the records in 

their care. (Unlike those 

characters, they don’t steal 

from the National Archives.)

know about your office 

that nobody knows?

Sorry, but we cannot share 

that....it is a Planning and 

Project Management secret!

If your office was a movie, 

what movie would it be? 

Why?

“The Bourne Identity” because 

we are resourceful and 

find creative ways to solve 

problems.
20 THOLOS • FALL 2016

How does your office 

support AOC’s mission?

Our office is responsible for 

ensuring sound financial 

stewardship and providing 

analysis that gives insight into 

the financial implications of 

program decisions. It’s not 

enough to merely “report the 

numbers” after-the-fact. 

Chief Financial Officer 5 TOM CARROLL, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

How does your division 

support AOC’s mission?

Computers, servers, email, 

Internet access, supporting 

applications as well as cell 

phones, flip phones — the 

Information Technology 

Division (ITD) provides nearly 

all the technology for the entire 

agency. All of which is critical to 

achieving AOC’s mission.

As an internal service 

provider, what services 

Information Technology Division 4 JAY WIEGMANN, CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER

BY THE NUMBERS

does your division 

provide to AOC’s front-line 

employees?

Whether you or your 

supervisor uses email, 

cell phones, computers, 

printers, networks or an 

app, every AOC front-line 

employee depends upon 

ITD each day to get work 

assignments, document the 

work and get paid. We take 

this responsibility to our 

front-line employees very 

seriously and it gives our work 

meaning knowing that we’re 

supporting you.

What is the most important 

measure of success for your 

division? 

We track system uptime, 

time to fix trouble tickets and 

all the “hard statistics,” but 

getting feedback directly from 

you, our customers, means 

the most to us.

What should everyone 

know about your division 

that nobody knows?

The ITD Help Desk is the 

place to go for any IT 

question. Printer toner? Yes. 

Account locked? Yes. New 

accounts? Yes. Broken phone? 

Yes. And anything else 

regarding technology. Just 

dial 202.225.4321, Monday 

through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 

p.m. Or send an email to 

helpdesk@aoc.gov.

If your division was a 

movie, what movie would 

it be? Why?

“Mission Impossible.”

We keep thousands of 

computers and mobile 

phones working, as well 

as hundreds of printers. 

We connect them all with 

hundreds of miles of fiber 

and wire we maintain over 

millions of square feet of 

buildings. Every month, we 

also deliver millions of emails 

(but block millions more 

that are spam), and answer 

thousands of phone calls to 

the Help Desk, closing 2,000 

tickets per month.

But on the best days it’s more 

like “Toy Story” — because 

technology is fun.

As an internal service 

provider, what services 

does your office provide 

to AOC’s front-line 

employees?

Our front-line employees 

probably interact most 

directly with our office on 

vendor payments, travel 

matters and financial 

management system help 

desk issues.
THOLOS • FALL 2016 21

What is the most important 

measure of success for your 

office? 

The AOC has received a 

clean audit opinion for 11 

consecutive years. This feat 

underscores our commitment 

to sound financial 

management, transparency 

and ethics.

What should everyone 

know about your office 

that nobody knows?

It’s critical that our office fully 

understands the mission and 

major programs here at the 

AOC so that we can connect 

How does your division 

support AOC’s mission?

We provide procurement 

support throughout the 

agency, as well as advice and 

guidance on property and 

fleet matters.

As an internal service 

provider, what services 

does your division 

provide to AOC’s front-line 

employees?

Renovated (and improved) 

facilities to work in, and 

procurement of equipment 

and materials to efficiently do 

their jobs. 

What is the most important 

measure of success for your 

division? 

Procurement Administrative 

Lead Time, the time it takes 

to purchase a product or 

service, fiscal year small 

business goals and fiscal year 

obligation percentage.

What should everyone 

know about your division 

that nobody knows?

Until June 2011, it was just 

the “Procurement Division.” It 

was re-named “Acquisition” 

because most federal 

“procurement” offices were 

called “Acquisition” offices. 

The “Material Management” 

function was added and 

includes advice, guidance and 

oversight of most property 

and fleet at the AOC. 

If your division was a 

movie, what movie would 

it be? Why?

“The Stewards” because we’re 

charged with obtaining the 

best value for the products 

and services we contract for, 

plus ensuring proper controls 

are in place to account for and 

manage property and fleet. 

the financial data to the 

operations side of our mission 

and explain what those 

numbers mean.

If your office was a movie, 

what movie would it be? 

Why?

“The West Wing.” In addition 

to our office’s commitment to 

public service, what rings true 

to me is that you need a good 

team to be successful. You 

hope to find the right people 

and put them in the right 

place, then you let your staff 

do what they do best.

Acquisition and Material Management Division 6 ANTHONY HUTCHERSON, CHIEF
Communications and Congressional Relations

U.S. Capitol, Room SB-16

Washington, DC 20515

The Architect of the Capitol strives 

to meet its mission 24 hours a day, 

365 days a year to serve Congress 

and the Supreme Court, preserve

America’s Capitol, and inspire

memorable experiences for all who 

visit the buildings and grounds.

Tholos is distributed by the Architect 

of the Capitol primarily for AOC 

employees. Questions regarding 

content and publication should be 

directed to AOC Communications 

and Congressional Relations at 

communications@aoc.gov, 

202.228.1793, or U.S. Capitol, Room 

SB-16, Washington, DC 20515.

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Where is this?

Photo by James Rosenthal

Answer: Skylight view in the Capitol 

Visitor Center from the bottom of the 

Senate stairwell.